Elegant Long View Center Wedding for Jeremy and Kristen!

Last February I met with Kristen and Jeremy to plan the ceremony for their beautiful wedding November 15, 2008 at Long View Center. I emailed them my diverse collection of ceremony material and they began putting together what they wanted in their ceremony. We worked on their selections together and fashioned a beautiful ceremony. After the ceremony I received many compliments from their parents and guests on how wonderful the ceremony was. Of course, I always tell them that it was the couple's choices that made their ceremony so special. Jeremy and Kristen decided that they were both more comfortable with the type of vows where I ask them the questions and they simply answer "I do" rather than speaking their vows to each other. They chose a short phrase to repeat after me for the exchange of rings. They included a Unity Candle ceremony during which the Arioso Strings played soft heavenly music.

Their parents' hearts melted as I gave the tribute to them from Kristen and Jeremy and they were very touched. (Moms are just about guaranteed to shed a tear or two!) They also included a non-denominational prayer and a reading of The Irrational Season by Madeleine L'Engle--a very nice reading for a wedding. After the pronouncement and kiss, we closed with a blessing and then I presented them to their guests as husband and wife. Amidst the applause and music, they floated up the aisle followed by their wedding party, parents and grandparents while the guests departed to the reception at the NC Museum of History.

We reassembled after the guests had left and took pictures. Craig Carpenter of Luster Studios was the photographer. One thing the couple wanted to be sure to do was ring the bell to announce their marriage to downtown Raleigh. The rope was harder to pull than they thought. Kristen found it hard to hold on to and Jeremy ended up swinging on the rope--but the bell rang many times. See the series of photos here! Thomasina Whitley, our capable wedding director, kept everyone organized and the wedding went very smoothly as we had rehearsed the day before. Rehearsals really pay off and I recommend them whenever there are more than one bridesmaid and one groomsman. Jeremy and Kristen, congratulations and best wishes to you and your new life together!